Really discouraged

I went through a 2-year period where I gave up. I didn't make time for regular exercise, I ate and drank what I wanted. Last February my doctor was very upset with me. My numbers were bad, my weight was up, etc. Between February and May I lost 5 pounds and my A1C went down to 6.2. My cholesterol was still a little high, as were my triglycerides.Since May I have become a crazy salad eater. I hardly ever have things like sandwiches for lunch anymore, NEVER accompany meals with potato chips anymore. I take fish oil tabs, eat salmon at least once a week, skinless chicken breasts, and I've cut my alcohol intake down to less than half of what it was (I drink only red wine, and only on occasion). I also started a running regimen and in the fall actually ran a race and didn't do too bad! Well, why then are did all of my bloodwork come back so bad?My A1C went down to 6.1. Ok, that' all right. My fasting glucose level is up to 140. My cholesterol is up. My triglycerides have not seen much improvement even though I'm on meds. And now I have high blood pressure!!! Although all of my clothes are fitting me totally differently, I have lost only 6 freaking pounds since last February! WHAT IS THIS? I feel like the poster child for "Why bother?" right now. This is ridiculous. I've literally been sweating my butt off, depriving myself, watching everything I ingest (and yes, I allow myself the evil french fries or lower-sugar ice cream some Saturdays as a treat). This makes no sense. I feel like my body is turning on me. My doctor is not encouraging at all. I know she thinks I'm lying about my food and beverage intake, and even my exercise. I am getting to not like her at all.

19 replies

i know exactly how you feel! i've only been diagnosed for a couple months now but i feel like i'm not getting anywhere. my weight fluctuates within a 5lb ratio even tho i bust my butt at the gym and walk the dogs til my legs kill me for hours. my BG is still not going down below 250 no matter what i do. i feel like giving up, but i haven't yet. i'm going to keep trying and see how far it takes me. just keep thinking 'one day at a time' and maybe it'll take us both to where we want to be!sincerely,LUCY

Good Morning, I too know how you feel, but you are doing the right by not giving up. Perhaps it is time for your doctor to readjust you medication. I had several adjustments before finding the one that works. Your doctor is your best friend and should listen when you talk and answers all of your your question. Keep a daily record of your B S taken three or four times daily and take it to yoour doc each visit so that she /he will get a complete picture of what is going on at a given time of day. The weight thing is more difficult, but hang in there you are doing great. Have a Fowers and Butterflies Day.

My experience was that the walking eventually increased my insulin sensitivity so the BG began to come down and then, when the BG started down, the scale did also. Took a couple months to get this going, so don't give up yet!!

It's great that your BS numbers are so good. That is half the battle because it means you are eating the right foods. The question I have is are you counting the calories you are eating including the dressing you put on your salad. The salad is great but the dressing can get you. It is the little things like butter and some dressings that add those calories and can hold you back from losing weight. I thought I was eating pretty healthy and well but once I started counting my calories I realized I was eating too much to lose weight. I am losing about 4 to 5 pounds a month on a 1400 calorie diet and I am not starving to death, and I count every little pat of butter I use, every tablespoon of olive oil, every raisin, blueberry, etc… I also walk at least 4 times a week for about 40 to 50 minutes. It has actually become a fun challenge for me to find foods that are tasty and filling and good for me. I've lost 30 pounds since February and sometimes it seems to take forever but I will get there and so will you. You might also want to get another doctor. I lucked out with mine. She is incredible caring and supportive. She has her nurse call me once a week to check what my sugars are and will make ajustments to my insulin intake if needed. I have gone from 98 units of lantus a day to 60 and hope by next year to be totally off lantus. I am a huge procrastinator so trust me if I can do it anyone can.

I think you put to much into pleasing your doctor, anxiety perhaps manifesting into your high blood pressure? I had a dostor the same as you described and I realized I had to live as well as I could with the limits placed on me by Diabetes. You lost weight good for you. We are all unique so what works for you is the best don't try to please your Doctor start by doing what you should do and that is the best anyone including yourself can ask for. LIVE

When I was lighter my A1c was a lot higher, believe it or not…I need to lose 50lbs, and I think you are doing really good. Since I turned 29, my weight does not just come off like it used to…I'm 41 now. The A1c does not necesarily come down in direct accordance to weight loss…but weight loss is always a positive because it takes more pressure off the feet, etc, I think you might be trying to hard…just hang in there!!!!!!——ANNE

I KNOW how u r feeling i am going through the exact thing u need to tell ur doc to listen if he/she isnt try to get a second thought from another doc my problem is thyroid it throws everything off but congrats on loosing the weight

I know exacly how you feel. I ve been diagnosed for a while and in the beggening i was really good on keeping my sugars down. Then ten years latter i got a wake up call. Since then ive lost 50 lbs and sugars are only a little better cholesterol high and blood preasure heading up too. I also feel like giving up but we got to remeber we didnt get like this instanly. It took a long time of not taking care of our selfs and so it will take a long to get better, but we can make it. I have had a lot of help and support from my family and i hope you do too. But if you dont feel that support i would like to extend mine and my friendship. I hope to hear updates from you.

Don't give up! You might just need to tweek what you are doing. I have found keeping a food journal and tracking my #'s have helped me see what is working and what is not. Also, if you doctor is not supporting you I would totally find a new doc! You need a good support team around you, not negativity. I hope you do not give up and keep working to see what will work for you in getting healthier. Is sounds like you are on the right track. Keep up the good work.

I just hate it when our lives just become a bunch of numbers. Do you feel better? Do you have more energy? Do you like what you are doing? Then keep it up. Even if your numbers are not totally reflective....you feel better. Isn't that worth it alone?

Like Tom said, sometimes we try too hard. If your doctor is not willing to believe you, then it is time to move on. You need a partner and a coach. Not a school principal with a paddle. A few visits ago I had a similar thing happen. I bought a size smaller pants and was THRILLED. The scale said I lost 1 pound. One lousy pound! So I just have to say that any loss is better than a gain.

Muscle weighs more than fat. Perhaps a different exercise will help your levels more. Maybe your fasting numbers were off that day? That is the fun with diabetes, there are so many variables. I believe that if you keep on doing what you know is right, it will pay off. Your body may just be an example of how "healthy" people get this dang disease.

I have always been frustrated by how so much of the medical community seems to treat us as if we came off the assembly line. I have been feeling better, although concerned about my heart rate when running (I got a referral to a cardiologist). I agree that it's time to change doctors - one that is more encouraging than rushing and punishing and making it so obvious that she thinks I'm a liar. My morning #'s are always my highest. My doctor doesn't seem to understand the Dawn Effect, which for years I have believed I suffer from. What bothers me so much is I have been working so hard the past six months and all of my numbers were worse except for my A1C, and I've never before had high blood pressure! It just doesn't make sense.

There can be other things going on. After all, we are not getting any younger. But it is better to have a doctor to work with you instead of just badger you. Mine doesn't understand the dawn phenomenon either and just says get your fasting numbers lower. I try and I even show him my numbers like a 113 at bed time and a 200 when I wake up. It is frustrating, but I just keep trying to find my way to deal with it.

This may sound a little foolish, but maybe you are trying too hard. We all reach levels which seem to take for ever to get off and start down the long road to loss once again. Do yourself a favor, stand back and reassess your plan, use the scale just once a week, and keep stress to a minimum. You can be your own worst enemy.

Yoga it sounds like you are doing the right things. Are you eating 3 meals a day with the average 45 carbs? If you are skipping meals that might be the problem. I used to eat only 1 or 2 fairly healthy meals a day and my BG was high. After attending diabetic education class I learned the necessity of eating 3 meals to help keep the blood sugars leveled out. Within a month of eating well I started losing weight, gained control over my BG, got off of insulin and glyburide.I hope this is helpful,Mary

I am concerned because I generally eat the several small meals a day (I finally got the hang of it). When I eat bread, I eat either totally whole wheat or, generally, pumpernickel. Salads are my usual lunch. I have been eating healthier the last 6 months than I probably ever have. I am racking my brain trying to figure out if I'm ingesting something that is wreaking havoc on my body. I only weigh myself when I go to the doctor because I don't want to get caught up with the numbers, but what a huge disappointment this was!

When I was first diagnosed I exercised like this, probably ate worse, and lost a lot of weight. Something has changed and I have no idea what it is.

I keep a journal of what I eat and how much, then I put my BG readings in it too. That is how I learned that I cannot eat any breat at all. If you are only eating salad for lunch are you still getting about 45 grams of carbs. Eating carbs and the ones right for you will help you level out your blood sugar. I feel that if you keep track of what you eat and how much a dietican can help you sort through it to find ways to help you.